When the second WDF World Championship kicked off last week at the Lakeside Country Club, it began one of the longest anticipated events in darts history.
First and foremost, its star asset Beau Greaves once again delivered to win the women’s event. To get Beau to compete was a coup in itself and a great antidote given the number who opted to compete north at the Alexandra Palace.
The latter stages of the men’s event particularly also delivered lots of entertaining and close ties. Number 1 seed Andy Baetens was largely formidable, and the presence of Jelle Klaasen, Danny Lauby and defending champion Neil Duff all helped to elevate the draw.
But there is something which still feels quite strange about this incarnation of the Lakeside World Championship, both a constant reminder of its BDO past and the home to a new organisation still finding its feet.
There is no doubt that the lack of a World Masters, canned for this year, raised the stakes on this world championship, for now the WDF’s sole major, televised offering.
And talking of television, there was the clear issue of coverage, with the tournament only airing on satellite television from the Friday onwards.
Broadcasting free and internationally on YouTube has its benefits for exposure, but perhaps does not give the event the gravitas it would hope for and received by airing on Eurosport last time around.
A title sponsor was certainly a bonus, but whether or not the organisation is able to sustain those relationships into the future will be a bigger question.
Speaking to Nick Rolls pre-tournament, it was clear that it was as much about re-establishing this World Championship as a regular presence than it was any particular outcome or target. On that front, it has succeeded.
But all of the bigger questions about the WDF remain: what purpose it wants to have within a wider darts ecosphere, how it will aim to mark itself out from the other emergent amateur organisations and how it will continue to handle relations with the PDC.
Having now settled on a new time slot for its marquee event, it will be imperative for the WDF to start to approach some of these new questions in 2024. Do that and it will be able to cement a longer-term future.
—–ENDS—–
Images: Chris Sergeant / WDF
Grab a 50th Anniversary Darts World package 581 here or the current print Issue 584 here :
The Darts World 50 limited edition dart set is available to order (Here) in your choice of pack/bundle.
Darts World Extra 13: Lakeside Special – Download or read the full version FREE
